Hi guys, this is one of my first ever fanfics so I'm just sort of going where the story takes me. It's set in 6th year, rated M for potential Sex/Violence etc.. I hope you enjoy it, I'm really looking forward to writing it! Reviews most welcome
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He hadn't wanted her to be the one to help him. Had loathed the very idea of it. She saw the small flicker of surprise and understanding cross his face as he entered the room, catching sight of her. Understanding quickly morphed into sullen anger as he sank heavily into the chair opposite. Hermione wondered vaguely if it had been her own rather mutinous expression that had given it away, she didn't imagine she looked overly pleased at the monumental task she had just been given.
She could easily have protested and told Dumbledore that Malfoy wouldn't have wanted her to be the one to do it, not that the headmaster would have heeded her of course. Just as she could easily have foreseen the irritating look of mulish incredulity developing on his pale features as he listened to Dumbledore's seemingly insane plan. On that at least, they could agree – it was a ridiculous plan…
"Her?" When he finally spoke his voice was forced and bitter, he did not even bother to look at her. "I'm not sure I can even stand to be in the same room as her much longer, let alone have her teach me." His fists were balled tightly at his sides, the muscles working hard in his face. He turned to Snape, who had remained silent at Dumbledore's side throughout – " Surely you can't think this is a good idea?" There was a tinge of desperation to the question, and Hermione felt a flush of humiliation despite herself. It wasn't like she had wanted any of this, but one had to make sacrifices for the greater good. Right..?
She bit back her exasperated reply, now certainly wasn't the time for petty arguments, no doubt there would be much of that in the near future however… She shook herself slightly, her mind still whirling as it attempted to process the impossibly strange turn her life had just taken. Snape, seemingly as adept at ignoring her presence as Malfoy, edged closer to the headmaster.
"Is there no one else who could assist him Albus? Whilst he is willing to help us in any way he can, there is a certain… Negative friction, shall we say, between these two in particular," his tone was silkily courteous, but here he seemed to cast Malfoy a surreptitiously warning glance, "I am not entirely sure it would be the most productive of partnerships - surely Patil or Thomas would be better choices, Granger lacks the ... " Here Dumbledore interrupted Snape smoothly.
"Would you rather I paired the boy with Harry Potter instead…? He would certainly be a fine choice." Dumbledore raised an amused eyebrow as Snape began to splutter incomprehensibly. "No, no, Severus. Miss Granger is the finest – indeed the only – student at Hogwarts whom I believe capable of undertaking and pulling off such an important task," his bright eyes found Hermione's, flashing her an kind smile as he spoke, "She has proved herself time and time again to be trustworthy, intelligent, brave and quite extraordinary – these are all traits that young Mr Malfoy here will have to learn and embody entirely if he is to succeed in the dangerous tasks that lie ahead of him." Here he turned his attention to Malfoy, whose turn it was to flush with resentful humiliation, eyes averted. "When you came to me at the start of term, you came because you were afraid, you wanted to change and you wanted to make amends, but most importantly you wanted to help. Surely those changes can only begin if you allow them? If you open your mind to them?" He spoke with a gentle intensity, as if they were alone in his office. "Of course I am aware that there is little between Miss Granger and yourself apart from perhaps, enmity, but war endangers and maims all – friend and foe. I think it would be wise for you to remember that I believed in and trusted you where few would have done, perhaps you could extend me the same courtesy regarding my decisions?" Dumbledore paused, his expression sombre. "And I do expect you to treat Miss Granger with more respect than that you have shown her tonight – after all, your life may come to depend on her mutual respect for you."
At these words, Hermione saw Malfoy stiffen subtly and she could almost imagine the indignant, furious thoughts that were rushing through his supercilious mind – respect her?! But she's a mudblood! A stuck up, prissy, bothersome little mudblood! He's mad – I'll never work with her.
But instead of this eruption he gave merely a small grunt of infuriated recognition, with his eyes downcast and arms crossed tightly over his chest. Hermione couldn't help but gaze at him in astonishment, she had not expected him to be mollified this easily – she herself had taken some far more persuasive winning over on Dumbledore's part. She observed Malfoy's white knuckled fingers digging into his arms curiously, and with a jolt of trepidation wondered exactly what had happened to make him so afraid, so willing to join their side. Dumbledore had skipped over various details and reasons when explaining Malfoy's switch in allegiances, merely stating that she would have to find them out in whatever order that Malfoy saw fit to reveal them. She observed wryly to herself that this probably meant she would never find them out at all…
"So, let me check I have all of this correctly," began Snape slowly, taking a seat next to Malfoy, "Draco will continue the task given to him by The Dark Lord, under the pretence of remaining utterly faithful, but he will also be reporting to The Order – mostly through Granger here? With whom he will be working closely on a regular basis in order to improve his skills in… Well, all areas?" Hermione could not blame Snape for failing to keep the hint of cynical disbelief from his voice – she herself was on the fence for this one.
"That is correct." This was all Dumbledore supplied in return. Snape hesitated, a perplexed expression on his sallow features.
"Perhaps… If you agree, I would be happy to teach him myself? I am after all, going to be teaching him Occlumency? Why not then should I tutor him privately in Defence Against The Dark Arts? I am struggling to see how a pupil could be a better teacher than I, headmaster?"
Dumbledore sighed, shaking his head ruefully. "Severus, we have been through this – you cannot be the one to teach him as you cannot be seen to be helping the boy too much, either by Voldemort's supporters, or indeed by the members of The Order – many of whom do not entirely trust you. You know this to be true." Snape snorted in irritation, disdain heavy on his face, but he remained silent. "On top of this," Dumbledore continued, "Miss Granger is well liked and respected amongst both her peers and within The Order, she is the perfect person to bridge these gaps for Mr Malfoy."
At these words, Dumbledore turned to Hermione, addressing her directly for the first time since Malfoy and Snape had entered the room. "Now then, Miss Granger…" She gave a start, now accustomed to being merely an eavesdropper snooping in on a seemingly ludicrous conversation. "You are a crucial part in all of this, the oil in the cogs of the machine one might say. If there is anything you need, anything at all – I hope you will feel able to come to me. I will endeavour to help you in any way I can, within the boundaries of keeping up appearances of course."
Hermione fumbled for words, she had yet to process the magnitude of the situation she had just gotten herself inextricably mixed up in – to whom she was now inextricably linked. She had already agreed to it, yes, but somehow the full, crushing weight of what she was going to be undertaking seemed to be hanging over her head. And it was Malfoy - cruel, selfish, bigoted Malfoy - who held the rope that prevented the weight from crashing down on her. She looked at him. Really looked at him.
At a first superficial glance he looked fairly ordinary – hair swept back neatly, black clothes immaculate, his expression sour with just a hint of that sneer. All perfectly regular. But then… His eyes. Oh. He was, of course, not looking at her, but his eyes told an utterly different tale to that of the rest of his appearance. The grey eyes, normally quick and bright, whether with malice or with mirth, seemed wooden and dull. Rimmed with dark ashen shadows, they stared out wanly with what she could only discern as hopelessness. Lost. Malfoy looked lost.
For the first time in all her years of knowing him, Hermione felt a small surge of pity for Malfoy. It started as a stirring in the pit of her stomach, reaching up to grip her in the chest, forcing the words out of her mouth in a breathy rush.
"Yes, of course professor. I'll help any way I can."
She regretted the accidentally enthusiastic tone to her words as soon as they were uttered. It was not exactly like she had expected Malfoy to jump with glee at her agreement, but the scowl that darkened his features, coupled with his immediate rise to his feet with a violent scraping back of his chair left little to her imagination. She may have enough pity for him buried somewhere to help him, but he certainly did not want her help.
"Great." The words, forced through gritted teeth, were directed at Dumbledore. "If that's all, can I go?" Dumbledore nodded, and Malfoy, who had barely even waited for a reply, spun on his heel and swept from the room without a backwards glance.
It was going to be a long, long year.
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Thanks for reading people – chapter 2 up soon all going well! Bit of a short chapter to start things off but I needed an opening.
